Published: Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 11:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 11:30 p.m.

The N.C. Mountain State Fair was alive with laughter Saturday morning. The roar of rides and excited conversations mixed in the breeze with the jumbled smell of fried foods.

With 50 rides to choose from, kids and adults were spread out all over the fairgrounds at the WNC Ag Center in Fletcher.

Austin Oneka, 12, walked down the exit steps away from a ride called the “Cyclops” with a big smile on his face. The ride looked like a gigantic arm extended into a claw. Inside the claw, fair-goers sat with their legs dangling. The ride began slowly rocking back and forth, building up momentum until it began swinging from left to right and spinning at the same time. It built up its speed and within a minute, the arm was jerking its riders back and forth into the sky.

Oneka had no fear of the ride. In fact, within two hours of the rides opening, the Arden resident had ridden it five times.

“It goes so high up,” he said.

In other parts of the park, people were riding the Ferris wheel, a pirate boat, and rides that spin in circles or upside down. One of the more popular rides at the fair on Saturday was the chairlift. The rides stretched across the center of the fair and gave riders a view of the entire fair from one end to the other.

“You have to go up high and high and high,” 3-year-old Nicole Becker said. Becker rode the ride with her mom, Lindsay, and her aunt, Dawnrenee.

What did the adults that rode with the toddler think about?

“I’m a little iffy about it,” Lindsay Becker said.

“I don’t like it,” Dawnrenee Becker said adamantly.

But it does serve a nifty purpose, Lindsay Becker added. “It gets you from one end to the other faster,” she said.

Kaylee Smith, 11, rode the Moon Rocket ride – a ride that sped its squealing victims upside down on a mini train track.

“I loved it,” Smith said. “That thing was awesome.”

Most kids did love it. Just as often as the kids poured from the rides with big smiles, they were generally met by parents with nervous faces.

“I can’t watch it,” Clay Smith said with a glance at his daughter. “I get dizzy.”

The fair had plenty to offer Saturday morning. There were animals, tractors, food and rides. The fair will continue until Sept. 15.

<p>The N.C. Mountain State Fair was alive with laughter Saturday morning. The roar of rides and excited conversations mixed in the breeze with the jumbled smell of fried foods.</p><p>With 50 rides to choose from, kids and adults were spread out all over the fairgrounds at the WNC Ag Center in Fletcher.</p><p>Austin Oneka, 12, walked down the exit steps away from a ride called the “Cyclops” with a big smile on his face. The ride looked like a gigantic arm extended into a claw. Inside the claw, fair-goers sat with their legs dangling. The ride began slowly rocking back and forth, building up momentum until it began swinging from left to right and spinning at the same time. It built up its speed and within a minute, the arm was jerking its riders back and forth into the sky.</p><p>Oneka had no fear of the ride. In fact, within two hours of the rides opening, the Arden resident had ridden it five times.</p><p>“It goes so high up,” he said.</p><p>In other parts of the park, people were riding the Ferris wheel, a pirate boat, and rides that spin in circles or upside down. One of the more popular rides at the fair on Saturday was the chairlift. The rides stretched across the center of the fair and gave riders a view of the entire fair from one end to the other.</p><p>“You have to go up high and high and high,” 3-year-old Nicole Becker said. Becker rode the ride with her mom, Lindsay, and her aunt, Dawnrenee.</p><p>What did the adults that rode with the toddler think about?</p><p>“I'm a little iffy about it,” Lindsay Becker said.</p><p>“I don't like it,” Dawnrenee Becker said adamantly.</p><p>But it does serve a nifty purpose, Lindsay Becker added. “It gets you from one end to the other faster,” she said.</p><p>Kaylee Smith, 11, rode the Moon Rocket ride – a ride that sped its squealing victims upside down on a mini train track.</p><p>“I loved it,” Smith said. “That thing was awesome.”</p><p>Most kids did love it. Just as often as the kids poured from the rides with big smiles, they were generally met by parents with nervous faces.</p><p>“I can't watch it,” Clay Smith said with a glance at his daughter. “I get dizzy.”</p><p>The fair had plenty to offer Saturday morning. There were animals, tractors, food and rides. The fair will continue until Sept. 15.</p><p>For more information, visit www.mountainfair.org.</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>